Statistics Menu

It would be difficult to imagine a family that enjoys racing more than the Parbhoos of the United States. This close-knit clan, which often gathers in numbers of up to 40 to cheer for their horses in big races, has taken its celebrations to the very highest level of the sport.

The Parbhoos are now back in Dubai with their second consecutive contender in the US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, following Grade 1 winner Giant Ryan, who finished fifth in 2012. Their runner this year, Trinniberg—whose name is partly inspired by the family roots in Trinidad—is the reigning American champion sprinter whose speed inspires their hopes.

“I know he is going to run well,” said Shivananda Parbhoo, the trainer of Trinniberg who followed in the footsteps of his father, family patriarch Bisnath, to become a trainer. “He’s shown us so much from the time he was a two-year-old. He is special.

“And he’s happy—look at him,” Parbhoo added, his voice rippling with pride in Monday’s pre-dawn darkness at Meydan as he watched Trinniberg gallop out following a 600-meter (about three-furlong) drill down the stretch. “He did it so easy.”

Like the Parbhoos, who built a successful trucking business in the US prior to establishing their racing stable, Trinniberg has risen from atypical beginnings. A bargain US$1,500 yearling, the son of Teuflesberg won his first race and has never looked back while competing against many of the best horses in America.

He won half his eight starts last year, including the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), and now will attempt to defeat some of the world’s best speedsters. The major question about Trinniberg is that he has never raced on an all-weather track.

“I think he is liking the track,” Parbhoo said after the workout. “Hopefully, he’ll get a good start. In a sprint race, the start is so important. After that, we’ve just got to leave it up to him.”
And Trinniberg won’t be alone. Parbhoo said 14 family members will be at Meydan on Saturday to cheer on their colt as he tries to win the biggest prize of their tenure in racing.